New research led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI),
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and The Rockefeller
University shows in mice that an experimental vaccine candidate designed
at TSRI can stimulate the immune system activity necessary to stop HIV
infection. The findings could provide key information for the
development of an effective AIDS vaccine.

For being so small, fruit flies have had a large impact on genetic
research. Fruit flies and humans share many genes, these small insects
make a useful model for better understanding cancer-causing genes.

The
European Commission rejects a petition to ban animal research. After
hearing arguments they held that animal research remains important to
medical and veterinary research.

"Today, there are effective treatments for many infectious diseases,
some forms of cancer, and several chronic diseases such as diabetes.
These advancements would have been impossible without the insights
gained in animal studies."

"...animal studies have provided
invaluable insight into basic biological processes that underpin
health and disease of humans and animals."

Researchers describe a new method for detecting liver cancer metastases
in mice. These findings indicate that programmed probiotics may be
useful for detecting liver cancer metastases early-on in the progression
of the disease.

Meet our new AMP/Michael D. Hayre Fellow in Public Outreach, University of Wisconsin graduate Audrey Buelo!

Audrey’s Hayre Fellowship project will be to create a one-credit
seminar for graduate students studying biomedical and psychological
research to encourage them to become strong public advocates for
science.

Fruit flies and humans have much more in common than you think! Research findings suggest that dissecting how fruit flies navigate through the world could help researchers understand how humans and mammals perform those tasks.

“The bottom line is that I think we’re starting to see increasing evidence that the fly may have a lot to tell us about how our own brains work, even when it comes to more complex aspects of cognition”

New mouse model for ALS and Frontotemporal Dementia gene offers new hope for potential therapies.

These findings will help speed up research into the molecular mechanism
behind these disorders and the animal model will offer a way to test
potential therapeutic agents to halt the death of neurons in the brain
and spinal cord.

Researchers
find that Zebrafish have the enzymatic machinery to synthesize gadusol,
an ultraviolet light absorbing compound. This discovery may make it
possible to have the compound produced for human use in topical or even
oral treatments.

“We know it provides UV-B protection, it makes a pretty good sunscreen.
But there may also be roles it plays as an antioxidant, in stress
response, embryonic development and other functions.”